Sovtek MIG 50

I first read about this amp in Guitar Player Mag, and then found one in a music store for $180, and have never looked back.

I've got many amps, and this is not the one I enjoy playing quietly--it's 'quiet' (wife-friendly) tone sounds a bit flat. However, when you connect it to a 2x12 with Vintage 30s, crank it up at least half way, and run a quality humbucker-equipped quitar into it, you are in sonic heaven. This thing absolutely smokes! It really is inspiring--great tight bass, incredible crunch, more balls than a bowling alley--and only $180. The thing breaths fire when you turn it up.

Like I said, it sounds a bit flat when played quietly. Almost like a "cardboard" tone, if cardboard could have a tone. Granted, this is compared to my other amps, which include a MusicMan HD 130 (another great loud amp, but clean), a Fender Vibro King, and a Fender Bassman reissue which are tone Gods when played below ear-spliting volume. But when cranked, the Sovtek takes the tone throne. I am always truely impressed with it.

Tough as nails.

Great bang for the buck. Doesn't do much, but if you want to Grunge-out like Neil Young at a big volume, this is a super amp.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this 50 watt tube amp from musician's friend 3 years ago after my old amp was fried. I paid about $225 for it.

I love the simplicity of this amp.
It's basically a one channel clean head, but does have a non-switchable high gain channel.
It has point to point wiring and a very basic eq section. I absolutely love the tone of this amp. It reminds me of a '59 bassman but with a bit more punch. It's very warm sounding. 100% tube lovelyness.


The only thing I do not like about this amp is that it wont switch between high gain and low gain. I even dried an a/b box, but when both inputs have signal to them, the amp will not perform.

I do alot of recording and touring, so I just use my effects and use the low gain input exclusively unless i record a dirty track.

Built like a tank. No big problems.
Some folks have a problem with the unit having plastic power switches, but my amp has performed flawlessly.

Great amp, you can't buy them new anymore,
but if you can get one from ebay or somewhere else, do it. Best bang for the buck.....seeing how it's 100% tube.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

The Sovtek MIG 50 is a 50 watt tube amp with a solid state rectifier. It has two tubes: a 12AX7 . There is one input, one volume knob and one on/off switch and that’s all. It has jacks for a 4,8, or 16 ohm speaker configuration. The construction of the cabinet is unusually solid and inspires extra respect for the amp. Even though the amp is extremely minimalist in terms of features I'm ranking it high because that’s what’s attractive about it i.e. its simplicity.


UTILIZATION

The amp could not be easier to use obviously. As you turn up the volume the sound goes from clean to dirty. At full volume the amp is surprisingly loud which is not a plus because the purpose of a low wattage amp is to make overdriven sound at low volume levels.


SOUNDS

This amp is most suitable for recording and practice at home. I use mine with a Weber attenuator to keep the volume down when turning up. I play mine through a single cabinet with a 12 inch Celestion G12H30 speaker. The amp produces an immediate somewhat brittle type of sound that I rightly or wrongly associate with class A amps. The Sovtek can get the job done believe me.


OVERALL OPINION

This amp is more suitable as a second amp to practice through or use to add variety to your recordings. These amps can be bought new for only for really cheap and that’s part of the attraction. I believe they have been big sellers and now other companies are offering alternatives in the same wattage and price range. The amp is cool and will probably maintain its market value over time but for me its too brittle sounding to be something I can fully love but from what I can tell many other people love them. For price and quality, I say this is a steal.

Any single channel amp 50w lamps (very very sturdy!) Equipped with two 5881 power
and three 12AX7 in Pramp.
I bought the used mine and it seems to date from the 90s but without certainty.
We are in the rustic:
2 not among "high" and "low" as one might think, but in fact "normal" and "brilliant" like a Vox AC30.
a basic qualisation
3 4,8,16 ohm speaker input for what is seen, and that's it ...
rverbe no, no master volume or anything else, is in rustic!
Finishing outside sometimes a little "not chre" gender ratchets "on" and "standby" white plastic that have yellowed with time ... not terrible, however the interior seems solidly built a few passable welds.

USE

As a rustic amp has rgle is easily the 50w are simply monstrous and must quickly temprer the beast lest the glares of other group members and incidentally to finish deaf. And that is the bottom lies: there is no master volume so you have to mount the volume knob to operate the lights and then it is really very strong! A Marshall JCM900 100w can largely go get dressed.
I remdie this gap using my Boss LS2 as mixer: I lower the volume knob on the pedal and I get it on the amp, I and operates the lamps of the amp. I'm not finding that the two volume knobs was interdpendant as stated below.
5 August 2007. EDIT: finally the knobs are interactive and play the role contour ...

SONORITS

I have read several times on the net that this amp was the replica of the Soviet JCM800 2203 (on which I played): I see no relation between the two, no common share that they are both "single-channel"
This is actually the replica (as mentioned below) of Hiwatt Custom 50 (of which I have also played this allows me to compare). To me, this is a striking experience to play on an amp or Marshall or Fender typ ... it's Hiwatt, or rather the Sovtek: English design, Russian military construction.
Let the sound: the crunch Mig 50 does not at all with the origins lamps, it switches to channel "normal" bourr of fishing, a slamming, outstanding dynamics and bass vibrating the walls! This is also my prfr.
The "bright" channel is equally dynamic but is much more slamming (normal say to me for a bright channel) but sacrifices a little low and can rvler a little too bright. I like less.
I play a Gibson Les Paul Studio guitar, I go through a marshall Shredmaster for heavy sounds and then by a DOD Grunge for sounds that tear, and a tear! which seemed a little winded on a JCM900 survitamin becomes the mig and Marshall cabinet on the same basic! When I plug in my cabinet is 2x12 house, I get great sound clear as saturated I put 10 without hsiter

NOTICE GLOBAL

This amp is really incredible. I had a veritable love with this amp, I nevertheless bought the blind, and I do not sulk my pleasure to possder a somewhat unusual with this amp sound so amazing.
It can be criticized rustic ct time effects and simulation hp or bundled, but not me GNE.
The only unknown for me is the reliability of the beast, follow.
The price quality ratio is exceptional, I pay 400E, but it may rvler against catastrophic in case of bad surprise. Mine is 100% original and I'm lucky to be fallen on him.
I purchased a gold 12AX7 Tung ground to see if I can do a little cruncher the beast but I do not know what was going to give, j'diterai to tell a.